Coach Paul Green to put stamp on North Queensland Cowboys following exits of key staff

NEW Cowboys coach Paul Green is set to put his stamp on North Queensland following the exits of three key staff.

NEW Cowboys coach Paul Green is set to put his stamp on North Queensland by bolstering his team of assistants following the resignation of forwards coach Peter Ryan.

Handed the Cowboys' head role three weeks ago, Green is currently performing due diligence on fresh lieutenants following the departure of three key backroom staff.

Ryan, the former Queensland hardman, has been joined at the exits by Cowboys conditioner Glen Murphy and trainer Steve Hooper, the latter of whom has signed with the Broncos.

High-performance chief Paul Bowman's tenure is secure, while USA World Cup coach Terry Matterson, the assistant to former coach Neil Henry, remains in talks with Green.

Former Maroons halfback Green is expected to finalise his coaching unit by the weekend, but the one certainty is former Dragons coach Nathan Brown will not be in Townsville in 2014.

Green had expressed interest in bringing Brown to the Cowboys, but is continuing the search for his offsider after the ex-St George hooker agreed to remain at English club St Helens.

"Brownie and I are good mates and I made some inquiries through a few third parties, but Nathan is settled at St Helens, so he won't be going anywhere," Green said.

"Terry Matterson is in the mix, it just depends on which other staff I bring on-board.

"The Cowboys had two assistants last year so I expect to have at least two there. I'm talking to a few blokes involved at other clubs, but I expect to have things sorted out by the end of the week.

"Paul Bowman is the head of high-performance ... he will stay in that role."

Despite a changing of the guard, Green doesn't expect to make many changes to the Cowboys outfit that produced a late surge to qualify for last season's finals.

Halfback Robert Lui is likely to remain at the scrumbase alongside Johnathan Thurston, while Green was impressed with Ray Thompson's mid-season conversion to hooker.

The former Roosters assistant is under pressure to deliver North Queensland's maiden title, but Maroons mentor Mal Meninga believes Green will fire as a rookie coach.

Meninga is working on a staffing succession plan for the Maroons and views Kevin Walters and Green among Queensland's next wave of coaching talent to maintain the state's dominance.

"Paul has been successful in the Intrust Super Competition and part of the successful Roosters staff as well, so he will bring a wealth of experience to the Cowboys," Meninga said.

"He has played for the Cowboys so he's the right fit and I wish him all the best.

"He looks like he's got the goods. He played for the Cowboys in the early years and the proof will be in the pudding.

"But from the things I've seen him do he has all the right attributes to be a topline coach."